At a time when technology inundates our lives, it can be difficult to connect with the natural world. Jennifer Ford, a teacher at Farnsworth Middle School in Guilderland, New York, has put FeederWatch to use in her classroom to do just that: connect students with nature and science in a very tangible way.

Jennifer wrote to us and said, “I have been doing Project FeederWatch with my 8th grade students for 3 years now. This year, so many students were showing up during study hall, lunch, and after school that I had to start a sign up sheet to make sure everyone was able to have space at a window to watch the feeders. Here is a picture of a group of my students watching our feeders. Thank you for this program—it is such a wonderful way to get students involved in science!”

Students in Jennifer Ford's classroom (Farnsworth Middle School, Guilderland, New York) count birds for FeederWatch. They are so engaged, she had to create a sign-up sheet to ensure everyone gets a window seat! Photo by Jennifer Ford.

Thank heavens there is a next generation of folks establishing a connection to nature! I was getting discouraged, thinking us middle-agers were the last to feel and appreciate the wonders of the natural world. Kudos to Ms. Ford and her students!